3. God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lye, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set befors us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast.* This is the great charter of the Christian, on which he builds the hope of his salvation. God bath sworn, that he will never forsake the heirs of promise; but that he will be with them in every trial, and will safely conduct them to the very end of their pilgrimage. Therefore, with faithful Abraham, they believe even against hope and in despite of their natural feelings. They may be cast down, but they are not destroyed; and, in the midst of all their difficulties, they trust that a life is hid for them with Christ in God.* Faith is not the evidence of things seen, but of things unseen: consequently, if our religious state was to be decided by our feelings, the very foundation of faith would be overturned; and we should have sensible demonstration of that, which we are required to believe, simply because God has promised it. II. The same question, however, may still be asked: How am I to know, whether I have been renewed by the Holy Ghost? How can I tell whether I have any right to apply God's promises to myself? The charter of salvation is sufficiently clear and explicit; but that will afford ME little comfort, unless I have good reason for thinking that I am included. * Coloss. iii. 3. : 1. Let us see, whether we cannot find an answer to these queries, in the page of Scripture. St. Paul informs us, that the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other.* Are we sensible then of any internal contest of this description in our hearts? Do we perceive a new principle, to which we were formerly strangers, strongly drawing us to the practice of holiness and all good works; while another principle damps our ardour, discourages our exertions, and too frequently frustrates our best resolutions? He, that has never felt such a struggle, must either be sinless or dead in sins. It is needless to say, that the former supposition cannot but be erroneous. 2. We further learn from the Apostle, that we cannot do the things that we would. Are we deeply conscious then, that this is our case? Do * Gal. v. 17. we daily more and more discover our own insufficiency? Do we lament that we cannot perform our duty better, labouring however at the same time incessantly after spiritual improvement? Many persons will readily enough acknowledge their imperfectious; but the question is, in what manner do they make the acknowledgment? Do they really feel the burden of their sins to be intolerable? Do they indeed, and from the very bottom of their souls, experience the pain and grief of falling so far short of their wishes? Or do they confess their failings with as much phlegmatic indifference, as if it were a matter which concerned any body in the whole world rather than themselves? The disorders of the soul are constantly represented in Scripture by corresponding disorders of the body hence it is reasonable to suppose, that, as corporeal pain is the result of the latter, so mental pain or grief will be the natural consequence of the former. In what manner then is who a person affected, who has long laboured under the pressure of a severe disease? Will he speak of his pains with insensibility? Will he sit down perfectly contented with his malady, totally forget its inconvenience, and take no steps to procure its removal, or at least its alleviation? Where did we ever meet with a sick man, answered to this description? Can we then easily believe, that he is very sensible of his spiritual disorder, who speaks of it with carelessness, finds it no obstacle to his enjoyments, and feels scarcely any desire for its expulsion? If a man really perceived, that he cannot do the things which he would, in the same manner that St. Paul did, he would experience the same restless sorrow, which constrained the Apostle to cry out; O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Let us then seriously ask ourselves, Do we clearly discern our inefficiency; do we lament our numerous failings; and do we labour earnestly after |